Ion TV Delays HD Launch
Ion Television pushes back high-def launch in 20 markets until March 16, citing "consumer confusion" around DTV delay
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/15/2009 8:00:00 PM
Posted at 6:00 AM ET, Feb. 17, 2009
Saying it wanted to "reduce consumer confusion" surrounding Congress' decision to move the DTV hard date, Ion Television announced Monday it will push back its launch in high definition one month.
Ion was planning to launch in HD on Feb. 16, in 20 markets where it has TV stations. Now those same 20 will launch March 16, with the other 40 stations coming on board later in the year.
Ion's 40 other stations--it is the largest station owner in terms of number of stations--are still going to make the transition to digital on Feb. 17, but about two thirds of the nation's roughly 1,800 TV stations will be delaying pulling the plug on the analog version of their primary signal after the administration asked, and Congress consented, to move the date.
That will give the government more time to set up call centers and get DTV-to-analog converter box coupons to viewers, though it will also create some confusion as viewers now have several analog cut-off dates to contend with.
-
i have been trying to get ion tv.i get all the stations around boston. i also get new bedford when i rotate my antenna.i got ion once in hd all 4 bands,that was for only 1 day now i can't get anything.are you going to make your signal a little stronger? i live in worcester and i get about 26 stations over the air.whats going on
fred szaban - 3/13/2009 6:06:29 PM EDT
